Sparta edges DeKalb in girls’ championship
The finals of the 2003 Warren Lodge Christmas Tournament were played Tuesday night, with the Lady Saints of DeKalb County squaring off against White County Middle School.
The Lady Warriors of Sparta proved to be to much for the Lady Saints, as White County claimed the championship trophy with a 43-39 win.
DeKalb County earned its way into the finals by downing Coffee County Middle School 48-23 in semifinal action Monday night. White County defeated Grundy County 41-15 in its semifinal game.
Sparta used its size advantage in the paint and controlled the boards during the opening period. The Lady Warriors scored first and did most of their damage from the inside with Lacy Yslas, Ashley Page and Ellee Agee combining for nine of Spartas’ 11 points in the period.
Vanessa Ingram provided the only offense DeKalb County had in the first period with four points on the board as the Lady Saints trailed 11-4 by the end of the period.
In the second period the Lady Saints took the ball inside and scored five of their 10 points in the period from the paint. Sparta continued to work the ball inside to Yslas as White County hit for nine points in the period.
Felicia Moore hit a 3-pointer with one minute left in the half to keep her Lady Saints within striking distance as the half ended with Sparta holding on to a 20-14 lead.
The Lady Warriors came out strong in the third period and extended the lead by 10, but DeKalb fought its way back into the contest with baskets from Ingram, Sarah West and Cynthia Woodward as the Lady Saints pulled within four by the end of the third at 29-25.
In the final period the two teams would settle the contest from the foul line. DeKalb had 10 shots from the line, making six of the crucial foul shots, while Sparta was sent to the line for 19 shots, hitting only seven. Both teams scored 14 points in the period but big baskets from the line by Agee and Page sealed the win for Sparta.
Leading the Lady Warriors was Yslas with 12 points. Ingram led the Lady Saints with 16.